Cause and Effect

  Colonists were required to transport goods only on British ships  Certain goods (sugar, tobacco, indigo, furs) could only go to England.  Imported goods must be purchased from England or pay taxes in British port if purchased from a foreign nation.  Purpose: To make England a wealthy nation The Navigation Acts (1650)

  COLONIAL REACTION:  many colonists ignored these laws.  Smuggling was prominent.  BRITISH RESPONSE:  Passed Sugar Act and Writs of Assistance The Navigations Acts (1650)

  Prohibited all settlement and fur trapping west of the Appalachian Mountains  Britain passed this law to pacify the Indians and to save them the expense of protecting colonists who settled on the frontier.  The colonists resented the Proclamation. Many defied the Proclamation and moved anyway. Proclamation of 1763

  Legal papers which gave custom officials the right to search any building for any reason.  The writs were an attempt to stop smuggling.  The colonists complained that these writs violated their rights as English subjects. Writs of Assistance (1764)

  Reduced the tax on sugar/molasses but also provided for stricter enforcement of the Navigation Acts by sending suspected smugglers to England for trial with Crown-appointed judges (not jury).  This law was an attempt to stop smuggling by lowering the tax and give the British government the tools to crackdown on smugglers. Sugar Act (1764)

  The colonists felt that this Sugar Act took away their rights of trial by jury and taxation with representation as guaranteed to them as English subjects. Sugar Act (1764)

  The Stamp Act was a direct tax on the colonies which placed a tax on almost all printed materials.  It was attempt to raise revenue for Britain. Stamp Act (1765)

 You Mad Bro?  People in Britain were shocked at the uproar in the colonies.  Britain had spent a great deal of $$$ protecting the colonists from the French  British paid 26 TIMES the taxes of the colonists.

  Britain taxing the colonies went against the long- established British principle of no taxation without representation (see Magna Carta 1215)  ONLY the colonists or their elected representatives had the right to pass taxes  No colonial representation in Parliament = No British taxes  Colonists were willing to pay taxes passed by colonial legislatures Here’s Why…

  In response to the Stamp Act the colonists did the following:  Formed the Sons and Daughters of Liberty  protested in the streets  harassed tax collectors  boycotted trade with England  non-importation agreements  Stamp Act Congress and Resolves Stamp Act Crisis (1765)

  The Stamp Act crisis brought a sense of unity to the colonies.  Critic of the law called for delegates from every colony to meet in New York.  The purpose of this “Stamp Act Congress” was to consider action against the hated Stamp Act.  Delegates from nine colonies sent delegates. A Call for Unity

  Drew up petitions, or letters, to King George III and to Parliament.  These petitions rejected the Stamp Act and asserted that Parliament had no right to tax the colonies.  Parliament paid little attention to these petitions. The Stamp Act Congress

  Besides petitions, the colonists took more direct action.  They called for a boycott (to refuse to buy certain goods or services) of British goods  The boycott took its toll, trade fell off by 14%.  British merchants and workers suffered.  Finally, in 1766 Parliament repealed (cancelled) the Stamp Act The Stamp Act Congress

  In reaction to the protests of the Stamp Act the British government repealed the law.  In its place, they passed the Declaratory Act. Stamp Act (1765)

  The Declaratory Act repealed the Stamp Act but also asserted British authority to tax the colonists in “all cases whatsoever.”  The British asserted their authority to tax the colonists whenever they wanted.  The colonists considered this act a victory. Declaratory Act (1766)

  Placed duties (taxes) on glass, paper, paint, lead, and tea brought into the colonies.  These duties were to be paid in gold or silver only and paid at the port of entry.  Also, suspended the New York legislature.  The Townshend Act was an effort by England’s new Finance Minister to tax the colonies “without offense”. Townshend Act (1767)

  This act challenged the colonists basic notions of taxation without representation and liberty. In response, the colonists renewed their boycotts of British goods.  Five colonists killed in a clash with British troops in 1770 known as “The Boston Massacre”.  The Townshend Act was repealed one month after the Boston Massacre. Townshend Acts (1767)

  Kept the tax on tea and gave the East India Company a monopoly over the American tea trade.  The British kept the tax on tea to show the colonists it still had the right to tax them. Tea Act (1773)

  In response to the Tea Act the colonials:  Organized Committees of Correspondence  The Boston Tea Party was staged by the Sons of Liberty.  The King was furious. Parliament passed four new laws (Intolerable Acts) to punish the colonists. Tea Act (1773)

  These acts were meant to punish Boston for the Boston Tea Party and to isolate Boston from the rest of the colonies.  Closed Boston harbor until the colonists paid for all the tea they dumped.  Greatly restricted colonial government  Allowed British commanders to house troops wherever necessary.  Allowed British officials accused of crimes to stand trial in England. Intolerable Acts (1774) also called the Coercive Acts

  Colonists sent supplies to aid Boston; Boycotted British goods; Established the First Continental Congress  Britain stood firm and tension between Britain and the American colonies increased; the colonists prepared for war; Fighting begins at Lexington and Concord (the shot heard ‘round the world) Intolerable Acts (1774)